Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aeonium  cultivar named ‘Madeira Rose’ is disclosed, characterized by concentric olive green rosettes with a bronze blush. Plants grow quickly, forming rings of even, concentric offsets at a distinctively young age. Due to abundant and early offsetting, plants can quickly fill a variety of commercial pot sizes, while maintaining an attractive compact habit. Mature plants are medium sized, growing to approximately 12 to 15 inches in height and 24 to 30 inches in diameter. Plants are observed tolerant of sunny and hot Summer conditions without requiring shade or protection.  Aeonium  is, typically produced as a container plant for the patio or for landscape use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Aeonium hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘MADEIRA ROSE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’, was found by the inventor, Renee O'Connell, as the result of a crossing made March 2012 as part of a planned breeding program. The seed parent variety is the unpatented proprietary variety referred to as Aeonium hybrida ‘BB II’. The pollen parent is the unpatented variety Aeonium hybrida ‘Coronado Lime’. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ was selected by the inventor, Renee O Connell, in April of 2013 from a group of seedlings resulting from the 2012 crossing, at a commercial greenhouse in Vista. Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Madeira Rose’ was first performed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by vegetative off-sets in October of 2013. ‘Madeira Rose’ has since produced multiple generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ as a new and distinct Aeonium cultivar:

-   -   1. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ produces very concentric olive green         rosettes which can blush bronze in strong light, giving a         two-toned appearance to the plant.     -   2. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ freely produces rings of offsets at an         early age, quickly producing an attractive cluster.     -   3. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’, due to the profuse production of         offsets, quickly fills a production pot, thereby reducing         production time.     -   4. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ typically grows to 12″ to 15″ in         height, continuing to spread laterally to 24″ to 30″ or more in         diameter.     -   5. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ is fast growing, quickly filling         larger pot sizes, thereby reducing crop time in a commercial         setting.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ differs from Aeonium ‘BB II’ in that         it freely produces rings or tiers of offsets, beginning at an         early age, but continuing as it grows, whereas the seed parent         Aeonium ‘BB II’ produces offsets as well, but far less and does         not produce the multiple “rings” of offsets.     -   2. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ blushes a darker copper color than         does Aeonium ‘BB II’.     -   3. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ forms clusters of rosettes that grow         to 12″ to 15″ tall by 24″ or more inches in diameter, whereas         Aeonium ‘BB II’ does not.

4. The green color of Aeonium ‘BB II’ is darker than the green color of Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ forms rosettes of olive leaves with         copper to bronze overtones, whereas the pollen parent Aeonium         ‘Coronado Lime’ produces lime green rosettes.     -   2. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ forms clusters of dense tiers of         offsets on a mid-sized plant, whereas Aeonium ‘Coronado Lime’         tends to be a shorter plant.     -   3. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ differs from Aeonium ‘Coronado Lime’         in that it freely produces rings or tiers of offsets, beginning         at an early age, but continuing as it grows, whereas the seed         parent Aeonium ‘Coronado Lime’ produces offsets as well, but         usually a single ring with more offsets, with an occasional         offset as it ages.     -   4. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ produces a more concentric plant than         Aeonium ‘Coronado Lime’.     -   5. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ performs better in full sun in the         landscape than does Aeonium ‘Coronado’, which only performs well         with afternoon shade, particularly in the hot summer months.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ are comparable to the unpatented, commercial variety Aeonium ‘Zwartkin’. The two Aeonium varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ forms clusters, ringed with several         tiers of offsets, whereas Aeonium ‘Zwartkin’, although it does         offset, produces less offsets, and does not produce the multiple         tiers of lateral offsets.     -   2. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ displays foliage colors of olive-apple         green, with copper or bronze secondary color, whereas Aeonium         ‘Zwartkin’ produces dark foliage colors, much like Aeonium         ‘Zwartkopf’.     -   3. Plants of Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ are 15″ or more in height,         with a lateral dimension of 24″ to 30″ in width, whereas plants         of Aeonium ‘Zwartkin’ are 10″ to 12″ in height, and 12″ to 15″         in diameter.     -   4. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ performs well in the landscape during         the warmer Summer months, whereas Aeonium ‘Zwartkin’ requires         shade protection during the warmer Summer months.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ can also be comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Aeonium ‘Party Platter’. The two Aeonium varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ forms rosettes of rich olive green,         with copper points and at times blushed copper, whereas Aeonium         ‘Party Platter’ forms rosettes of lime green.     -   2. The leaves of Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ are shiny whereas those         of Aeonium ‘Party Platter’ are matte in texture.     -   3. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ forms concentric rosettes, ringed with         several tiers of offsets, whereas Aeonium ‘Party Platter’ forms         many offsets, but the way in which they emerge causes the plant         to look unbalanced, and for this reason, does not have the         aesthetic appeal of a specimen of Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’.     -   4. Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ forms specimens at least 15″ in height         by 24″ to 30″ in diameter, whereas Aeonium ‘Party Platter’ forms         lower growing specimens,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical of plant of Aeonium ‘Madeira Rose’ grown in a shadehouse in Vista, Calif. at a light intensity of approximately 2500 to 3500 fc.

Age of the plant photographed is approximately 10 months from a rooted plantlet. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques. All photographs provided by the breeder.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural. Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Madeira Rose’ plants in a commercial shade house in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from approximately 1° C. to 38° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to 3500 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Aeonium hybrida ‘MADEIRA ROSE’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative offsets. -   Time to initiate roots: About 18 days at approximately 24° C. -   Root description: Fibrous, brown, not accurately measured with a     color chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 4 months. -   Container size of the plant described: 1 gallon. -   Growth habit: Upright, caulescent, with a terminal rosette, very     freely offsetting. Tight, somewhat flattened rosette. -   Height: Approximately 15 cm to top of highest leaf. -   Plant spread: 32 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderately fast. -   Branching characteristics: Freely offsetting. -   Rosettes per plant: Average range 10 to 14.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate.         -   Average length.—Outer rosette mature leaf approximately             10 cm. Inner rosette mature leaf approximately 5 cm.         -   Average width.—3.0 cm.         -   Width at base.—1.1 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Mucronate and blunt rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Finely ciliate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Glossy.         -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Glossy.         -   Quantity of leaves per rosette.—Average range 40 to 60.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Base 143C. Mid-section near             Greyed-Purple N186B. Apical margin 187B. Young foliage,             under side: Near RHS Green 138B, flushed N186B near top,             apical margin 187B. Base Yellow-Green 144D. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Base Yellow-Green 144D,             lightly flushed 187D. Uppermost section flushed N186C.             Apical margin 187B. Mature foliage, under side: Near RHS             Green 138A. Base Green 138D, flushed 187D. Apical margin             186C.         -   Venation.—There is no visual appearance of venation.

FLOWER

-   Flowering not observed to date.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Flowering not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Plant has not flowered or produced fruits and     seeds to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately −2     degrees C. to 40 degrees C. -   Disease/pest resistance: Displays the same disease and pest     resistance of any other comparable Aeonium. -   Drought tolerance: Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high temperatures     without supplemental water, showing no serious damage to plant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aeonium plant named ‘MADEIRA ROSE’ as herein illustrated and described. 